The Indianapolis 500, a major highlight in the motorsport calendar, is upon us. This prestigious event spans the next two weeks and can be watched live.
Often hailed as “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the event sees 33 drivers competing fiercely over 200 laps on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval track. It`s a race format some Formula 1 drivers have publicly stated they find too challenging or intimidating.
Josef Newgarden is the reigning champion and is aiming to make history by becoming the first driver to achieve three consecutive Indy 500 victories.
This year`s field includes several former winners: Helio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato, Will Power, and Marcus Ericsson.
Leading the IndyCar championship currently is Spanish driver Alex Palou. He has shown dominant form this season, securing wins in four of the initial five events, despite the series being known for its typically close competition.
Indy 500 Weather Forecast
The two-week weather outlook for Indianapolis is promising for the crucial events. Forecasts suggest rain is unlikely to impact the key qualifying sessions scheduled for this weekend, nor is it expected to affect the 109th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 25th.
However, there is a possibility of wet conditions affecting some of the earlier practice sessions during the fortnight leading up to the race.
Indy 500 Schedule
Here is the schedule for the event sessions (all times are approximate UK time):
Tuesday, May 13: 5:00 PM – Practice 1
Wednesday, May 14: 5:00 PM – Practice 2
Thursday, May 15: 5:00 PM – Practice 3
Friday, May 16: 6:15 PM – Practice 4
Saturday, May 17: 1:30 PM – Practice 5
Saturday, May 17: 4:00 PM – Qualifying
Sunday, May 18: 6:00 PM – Practice 6
Sunday, May 18: 9:00 PM – Qualifying
Monday, May 19: 6:00 PM – Practice 7
Friday, May 23: 4:00 PM – Final Practice
Friday, May 23: 7:30 PM – Pit Stop Challenge
Sunday, May 25: 5:30 PM – 109th Running of the Indy 500
Marcus Prine